Gardens may be looking a little untidy and overgrown now that we are in late winter, but it is incredibly important that gardeners stay away from their lawnmowers a little while longer. 

One of the biggest mistakes people make at this time of year is being impatient and mowing their lawn too early, as it will make the garden look nicer but is extremely harmful to grass. 

Lawns becomes dormant in winter to protect itself from the cold, and if you mow when the temperature is still freezing, it will greatly stress out the grass. 

Grass will not be able to store energy properly if the blades are not long enough, which will effect its ability to grow in spring and can lead to big brown patches on lawn.

Instead, Gene Caballero, a gardening expert from Your Green Pal, has shared that you should only consider mowing the lawn in springtime once pink blossom is growing on trees. 

Gene said: “Since Magnolia trees start to bloom when the soil reaches ideal growth temperature…in February or March. Their blooms make a perfect marker for when to begin mowing. 

“These blooms confirm that the lawn has indeed awake and stable enough for cutting.”

Grass should only be cut when it is actively growing once the temperature during the day is consistently above 10C. 

This will mean the temperature is warm enough and the risk of frost has passed so there is no chance of the grass suffering from cold damage once it is mowed. 

Make sure the grass is at least three to four inches tall before you begin cutting it as extremely short grass takes a long time to recover and can lead to yellow patches. 

Always make sure to only cut one-third of your grass length at once to ensure you lawn stays healthy and vibrant throughout the rest of the year. 

It is also important to consider the weather before you mow for the first time this year as you should never cut lawn after it has been raining. 

Mowing wet grass is more likely to lead to uneven cuts and can make soil become compacted, which can affect how much water gets to the roots. 

The perfect time to mow the lawn is usually between late March and early April when springtime has just arrived. 

Do not leave mowing too long as if grass becomes very overgrown it during the hot weather it can trap moisture which can lead to mould and fungal diseases in the grass. 

Gene said: “Leaving the grass too long in the winter can cause the grass to become matted and encourage winter diseases, such as pink and grey snow mold. 

“For best results, only remove the top 1/3 of the grass on this initial mow as this will rejuvenate the turf and wake it up faster when the sun hits.”